Box for containing vials or the like adapted for automatic loading

ABSTRACT

A box for vials and the like suitable for automatic loading, comprises a bottom flap, side flaps, a front flap and a base flap. It may be folded to obtain an element of prismatic shape having an approximately square cross section, provided with circular holes on the face facing the outside and on the intermediate faces, and with polygonal holes with rounded corners on the face facing the inside. After insertion of the vials or tubular bodies, the box is sealed by folding and glueing the front flap on to the remaining parts.

United States Patent Ziche 1 Nov. 25, 1975 BOX FOR CONTAINING VlALS OR THE 2,869.720 1/1959 Mahoney 229/39 B x LIKE ADAPTED FOR AUTOMATIC 3,115,247 12/1963 Hauser 206/528 3,251,528 5/1966 Cilluffo 229/8 LOADING Inventor: Arrigo Ziche, Vicenza, ltaly Assignee: Brevetti C.E.A. S.p.A., Italy Filed: May 22, 1974 Appl. No: 472,445

US. Cl. 229/39 B; 206/528; 229/14 C Int. Cl. B65D 5/36; B65D 5/58 Field of Search 229/39 B, 14 C, 22;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Desmond et a1. 229/14 C X Primary ExaminerDavis T. Moorhead Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bucknam and Archer [57] ABSTRACT A box for vials and the like suitable for automatic loading, comprises a bottom flap, side flaps, a front flap and a base flap. It may be folded to obtain an element of prismatic shape having an approximately square cross section, provided with circular holes on the face facing the outside and on the intermediate faces, and with polygonal holes with rounded corners on the face facing the inside. After insertion of the vials or tubular bodies, the box is sealed by folding and glueing the front flap on to the remaining parts.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent N0v.25,1975 Sheet10f3 3,921,895

U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet3of3 3,921,895

. wall of the box.

BOX FOR CONTAINING VIALS OR THE LIKE ADAPTED FOR AUTOMATIC LOADING The present invention relates to a box for containing vials or tubular bodies in general, the fundamental characteristic of which is that its configuration is such as to allow the vials to be inserted into the box to be loaded by an automatic machine.

The box comprises a bottom flap which is folded back a number of times so as to form, when the box has been formed, a prismatic element of approximately square cross section, provided on the side facing the inside of the box with holes of polygonal shape or other geometical shape with rounded vertices, and provided on the side facing the outside and on the intermediate wall with circular holes, into which the vials or tubular bodies in general are inserted on loading by the automatic machine. The inserted vials remain firmly fixed to the box because of the presence of the polygonal holes formed on the inside face of the prismatic base body, the elements being slightly forced into these holes and consequently remaining imprisoned in them.

The box is then sealed by folding back the upper free flap, which is conveniently provided with consecutive Before filling the box, the folded element 4 (FIG. 2) is raised so as to make the circular holes 11 of its bottom surface coincide with the outer face of the box, there being further circular holes 12 corresponding with these latter holes in the intermediate strengthening wall 13, while in the wall facing the inside 14 there are holes 15 of polygonal shape with rounded corners.

These holes are designed in such a manner as to permit the somewhat forced insertion of the vials or tubular elements, which when inserted as far as the bottom of the box through the holes 11 and passing through the holes 12 remain held by the holes 15.

This operation will be carried out by an automatic machine, after which the appendices 2' and 3' of the side flaps 2 and 3 are folded on to the sides of the box (FIG. 3) and are glued to the flap 4.

The front flap 7 is then folded on to the flaps of the sides 2 and 3after folding the head appendices 2 and 3" of these latter, and on to the base flap 4 (FIG. 4), so completely sealing the box.

The dashed scoring line 8 enables the box to be easily opened by simply raising the end 16 of the flap 7, as shown in FIG. 4.

The cardboard of the flap 7 is cut along the dashed scoring line, and it is always possible to provisionally reclose and reopen the box by simply inserting the projection 9 of the flap 7 into the slot 10 (FIG. 3) formed FIG. 1 represents the sheet of cardboard as it is supition with the vials inserted;

FIG. 4 represents the box in the closeclposition, ust

as it has begun to be opened before use.

The box according to the invention comprises a bottom flap 1 (FIG. 1) provided at itssides with two side flaps 2 and 3 with side projections 2 3' for folding, and a head 2" 3", and with a flap 4, folded a number of times and glued, the flap 5 being on the inner surface of the base flap 1, and the flap 6 being on the inner surface of the flap 4.

The front flap 7, folded twice, completes the front It is provided'with dashed scoring 8 along a broken line, it being easy to open the box along the scoring, so breaking the seal which constitutes the users guarantee, and the box can be reclosed by inserting the projection 9, which projects after the front wall 7 has been broken along the dashed line 8, into the curved cut 10 formed on the upper face of the flap 4.

Advantageously this latter flap is in a flattened position, as shown in FIG. 1, when it is stored after the first cutting, printing, folding and glueing operations carried out in the works of the firm producing the box which, in this condition, is despatched to the packing institutions, where the box will be filled.

Obviously the box may be supplied open, the folding and glueing operations being able to be carried out at the moment of inserting the vials.

in the flap 4 of the box.

The vials or tubular bodies may be arranged in two or more layers, which may be of different diameters, I

the necessary holes in this case being formed in the appropriate manner in the various flaps of the box.

Evident advantages are obtained by using the box according to the invention, which may be made up and loaded with the vials or tubular elements in general in a completely automatic manner by means of a machine to which the shape and size of the box are adapted.

I claim:

1. A cardboard box adapted for automatic loading of forming a prismatic element of substantially square cross section, with an intermediate wall, said prismatic element having polygonal holes with rounded corners on the face facing the interior of the box, having circular holes both on the face facing the outside and on said intermediate wall, said circular holes on the facefacing the outside coinciding with the circular holes on the intermediate wall, the vials being inserted through said circular holes and being held by the holes of polygonal shape when the box is assembled, said side flaps being disposed vertically, said first projections being folded to lay horizontally and being glued to said base flap, said second side projections being folded and glued to the bottom flap to seal the box, said front flap being folded twice to complete the front wall after the box is filled.

2. The cardboard box according to claim 1 wherein the front flap is folded on said side flaps and on said base flap to seal the box, said front flap being provided with a dashed scoring line for opening the box.

3. The cardboard according to claim 2 wherein said base flap is provided with a slot and a projection on said front flap engages with said slot for closing the box. 

1. A cardboard box adapted for automatic loading of vials, comprising a bottom flap, two side flaps each connected at two opposite sides of the bottom flap, two first projections connected to two sides of the side flaps, two second projections connected to the other two sides of the side flaps, a base flap folded several times and glued, a front flap connected to said bottom flap along a third side between the two sides which are provided with the side flaps and opposite the side which supports said base flap, said base flap when raised forming a prismatic element of substantially square cross section, with an intermediate wall, said prismatic element having polygonal holes with rounded corners on the face facing the interior of the box, having circular holes both on the face facing the outside and on said intermediate wall, said circular holes on the face facing the outside coinciding with the circular holes on the intermediate wall, the vials being inserted through said circular holes and being held by the holes of polygonal shape when the box is assembled, said side flaps being disposed vertically, said first projections being folded to lay horizontally and being glued to said base flap, said second side projections being folded and glued to the bottom flap to seal the box, said front flap being folded twice to complete the front wall after the box is filled.
 2. The cardboard box according to claim 1 wherein the front flap is folded on said side flaps and on said base flap to seal the box, said front flap being provided with a dashed scoring line for opening the box.
 3. The cardboard according to claim 2 wherein said base flap is provided with a slot and a projection on said front flap engages with said slot for closing the box. 